Budget Travel in Uzbekistan: How to Keep Costs to a Minimum

Uzbekistan is one of the most affordable countries in Central Asia for a traveler: hospitable people, inexpensive food, rich history. With sensible planning you can travel on a small budget and still keep the main experiences. Below are tips for those counting their money. We do not quote sums here because prices change and depend on the season, so check current figures on the spot. For transfers between cities the routes Tashkent — Samarkand and Samarkand — Bukhara will be useful.

Where to save and where not to

A trip budget has five parts: accommodation, food, transport, tickets to sights and souvenirs. The main room for savings is in lodging, transport and food. Do not skimp on safety and health.

Accommodation

• Hostels. A bed in a dorm is the cheapest option, plus you meet other travelers. Read reviews and choose places with air conditioning, especially in summer.
• Guesthouses. Often cheaper than hotels, and breakfast is usually included. Cosiness and conversation with the hosts make them a great choice.
• Budget hotels. For a group of two or three, one room for everyone can beat several beds.
• Book in advance. In season prices rise and the best options are snapped up, so do not delay.
• Do not stay strictly in the centre. An area ten minutes' walk or a short ride away is often cheaper, and the walk is short.

Food

Eating cheaply in Uzbekistan is easy and tasty.

1. Oshkhonas and teahouses. Simple places for locals serving plov, lagman, manti, shurpa. Portions are large and prices affordable.
2. Flatbread, samsa, fruit. The best snacks, especially at bazaars.
3. Bazaars. Buy fruit, nuts, dried fruit and flatbread and have a picnic.
4. Lunch instead of dinner. Many places offer lunch portions cheaper than evening ones.
5. Green tea. Often served free or for a token price.
6. Water. Buy bottled water in large bottles at a shop rather than small ones in cafes.

Notice where locals eat: it is usually tastier and cheaper than in places near the main sights.

Transport

• Shared rides. A seat in a car is cheaper than a taxi and departure time is more flexible than a train. On routes like Samarkand — Bukhara you pay only for your own seat.
• Trains. High-speed ones are convenient but pricier. For budget options look at slower trains and different carriage classes.
• City transport. Tashkent's metro and buses are inexpensive. For distances within an old town, walking is often enough.
• Book in advance. That avoids overpaying for urgency.
• Team up. Groups of several people split the cost of the road.

Sights

Tickets to museums and monuments add up. To save:

• make a list of must-see places and choose only what really interests you;
• use free places: squares, bazaars, old-town neighbourhoods, embankments, gardens. More in our article on free sights;
• ask whether combined tickets or discounts exist, for example for students;
• do not pay for photos and video where it is not required, but respect the rules.

Living without extra spending

1. Carry a reusable bottle and refill it.
2. Wash clothes instead of buying new ones; many guesthouses allow it.
3. Compare prices at bazaars and bargain politely.
4. Change money at official exchange points and banks, comparing rates.
5. Use a card with no fees for withdrawals and payments abroad, if possible.
6. Plan the day in advance so as not to spend on taxis because of haste.

A sample week plan

1. Tashkent (2 days): the metro, Chorsu Bazaar, walks in parks, tasting plov.
2. Samarkand (2-3 days): the Registan, Shah-i-Zinda, Gur-Emir, Siab Bazaar.
3. Bukhara (2 days): Lyabi-Hauz, trading domes, the old town.

Between cities, use shared rides or trains, choosing whichever is best for you in price and time.

What not to do to save money

• do not get into random cars without agreeing on the price;
• do not skimp on water and food to the point of getting ill;
• do not leave belongings unattended in cheap hostels without lockers;
• do not skip insurance.

Bottom line

Budget travel in Uzbekistan is not giving up experiences but knowing how to choose. A hostel or guesthouse, plov in an oshkhona, flatbread from a bazaar and a seat in a shared car let you see the main cities without large costs. See all directions on the all routes page, with passenger details on the for passengers page.

Cover photo: William Murphy from Dublin, Ireland, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons.